With 2017 NFL draft in the books, Bills likely to see immediate front office overhaul

When the Buffalo Bills fired Rex Ryan, general manager Doug Whaley was given full autonomy to hire the team’s next head coach. It didn’t take long for former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to impress Whaley along with owners Terry Pegula and he was hired to lead the team to their first postseason appearance of the millennium.

McDermott quickly got in the good graces of the front office, to the point that the organization adopted a ‘one voice’ mantra, meaning that the first-year coach would essentially be the face of the franchise. He would be the one to speak to the media while Whaley lurked in the shadows.

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Rumors of a rift between Whaley and McDermott began to surface with reports arising that Whaley could be fired in favor of a ‘McDermott-friendly’ replacement. As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

With the 2017 NFL draft now in the books, it sounds like that front office shakeup could happen immediately. According to CBS NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported on Twitter that the Bills scouts and personnel men are expected to be in the office early in the morning on Sunday with the expectations that a new general manager will be revealed.

Bills scouts and personnel men told to be in the office in the AM where new of GM change could be revealed according to sources

La Canfora went on to suggest that Panthers assistant general manager Brandon Beane is the top candidate, giving more credence to the rumors that McDermott would be joined with those that share his organizational philosophies.

Continue to hear a major shake-up of Bills front office is very possible if not probable. Panthers assistant GM Brandon Beane top candidate

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Whaley took over as general manager following the 2013 NFL draft after rising through the NFL ranks as a player personnel evaluator. He’s made a series of savvy moves, particularly when it comes to acquiring players through the waiver wire, but he’s also had some serious draft blunders and made some questionable moves in free agency.

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The 2017 NFL draft appeared to follow a far different path than those previously ran by Whaley, as McDermott was seemingly the one calling the shots, despite not admitting so outright. He was diplomatic with his answers when asked about Whaley’s job security but repeatedly stated that he was focused on the draft, rather than complimenting his general manager for making the draft picks.

“Right now, I’m focused on this draft. Honestly. I’m going to focus on this draft and what we have in front of us going on right now with this priority free agent market right now. I will say that Doug and his staff did a phenomenal job. I will say that,” McDermott said.

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The Pegula’s also own the Buffalo Sabres, an NHL franchise and fired both the head coach and general manager just one week ago after they were on the job for just two years, and fired Ryan after two years as the Bills’ head coach, so there’s no doubting that they make swift decisions.

Whether Whaley remains as Buffalo’s general manager of the future remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a situation worth following closely.